February 28, 2024 – Therapies resembling group counseling, marital support and mindfulness can treat some symptoms of menopause resembling anxiety and low mood, based on a brand new evaluation.
Researchers at University College London reviewed 30 studies involving 3,500 women in 14 countries, including the United States. Their results were published within the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Britain's National Health Service suggested last yr that cognitive behavioral therapy could also be useful for decent flashes, sleep and mood problems with or as an alternative of hormone alternative therapy (HRT).
HRT is given in the shape of gels, tablets and sprays to interchange estrogen, progestin or each.
“But psychosocial therapies such as group counseling, marriage counseling and health coaching, as well as mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy, focus on developing behavioral patterns, coping strategies and relaxation techniques.” the BBC reported.
The London researchers said it was probably higher than hormone alternative therapy at “empowering women” to develop positive considering. Some women experienced “statistically significant improvements” in anxiety and depression after cognitive behavioral and mindfulness therapies, in comparison with those that received no treatments in any respect. CBT and group therapies improved sleep, memory and concentration.
Aimee Spector, Phd., professor of clinical psychology of aging on the University College of London, said the outcomes showed a transparent link between physical and psychological symptoms, with hot flashes being one example. They cause women to change into “very anxious,” and this anxiety can then result in more hot flashes.
Likewise, poor sleep can result in depression, which makes sleeping even tougher, and so forth.
Cognitive behavioral therapy can break these cycles “by getting people to use strategies to think about different ways of looking at things,” she said.